bltd

If you’re interested in color theory, have I got the tea towels for you. Raw Color has created a series of tea towels that explore concepts from graphic design in woven form. From 10% to 100% intensity, each box of color appears to be printed on as a sort of large scale screen key (those little boxes on the sides of printed fabrics), yet each is expressed by altering the fabric weave. It’s the concept of print and traditional weaving combined. There’s also the Index Collection Blankets, which are even more impressive because of the larger scale; they’re available from Raw Color’s website for €375.
(more…)

Happy Fourth of July! Here’s hoping you have an excellent weekend full of delicious food and astounding fireworks. See you back here on Monday!

Shown above: Coltellerie Maserin BBQ Grill Set, $135.00

Made of rosewood and rust-free steel, includes 21″ spatula and fork, and 20″ knife.

The official beginning of summer is almost upon us, and the summer means backyard grilling. And, if you do any backyard grilling, you need a basting brush. This brush and beaker by Eva Solo is a smart little set to aid you in your outdoor cooking, as the silicone brush rests upon the side of the beaker to keep things tidy. It’d be a handsome addition to your other grilling tools.
(more…)

Gah! I didn’t think it possible to admire a cutting board so much. This collection of Shape Boards from Bower Studio (also available from Cooper-Hewitt Shop) has my head in a spin. The blank side is for cutting, the (non-toxic) painted side for a decorative twist of a 3D geometric shape. And, get ready for it, Bower Studio also has Shape Mirrors, but that’s for another post (tomorrow).
(more…)

It’s been a little while since a tea towel has been featured, and for all we know you’re standing there with your hands wet from the sink and nowhere to turn. Not to fret, dry your hands on your shirt and then buy a tea towel or two for all sorts of kitchen mop-ups. Piano Nobile’s Starry and Cloud Swirl Tea Towels are just as good as some of the art on your walls (probably), and the designs are printed with non-toxic ink on a GOTS-certified linen tea towel with neon pink edging.
(more…)

If ordinary storage jars just won’t do, you’ll want to take a look at the Obtineo Collection by Yorkshire-based designer Tom Hutchinson. Handcrafted entirely in the UK, each storage jar is made from turned solid ash and oak, hand-blown glass, 100% wool felt, and a silicone seal to ensure a tight fit. Use them in the kitchen for storing foodstuffs or in the bathroom or office for organizing smaller items. Pledge £30 or more to back the project and receive one (or many) jar(s) of your very own.
(more…)

These wooden boards are for serving rather than for cutting, which makes sense once you notice the nicely crafted recessed rectangles (hence the ‘Rothko’) and how well the different sizes would mix and match for an architecturally minimal presentation. Made from sustainable panga panga wood, the Rothko Serving Boards were designed by Swedish studio Claesson Koivisto Rune and produced by Botswana furniture maker Peter Mabeo working in collaboration with local artisans.
(more…)

Have you ever walked into a kitchen showroom like Bulthaup or Poggenpohl? If you have, you’re familiar with their customized drawer organizational systems, and you may have even (metaphorically) drooled over the sleek lines of perfect boxes in which to place your utensils, spices, plates, and pans. Dropping $60k to $80k for kitchen cabinets is unfortunately much more than many of us can afford, and, sadly, we say goodbye to such lovely drawer interiors, thinking they are beyond our budgets.
(more…)

Hmm, what in the world could this small, ramp-like item be? It’s made from natural cork and is about the size of a medium sized notepad (for lack of a better comparison). Any guesses? Pay attention to the incline, ribbing, and bumper at the end… would you be able to store, say, longer, flat things on it somehow?
(more…)

This Two-sided Colander makes a lot of sense; drain your fruit/greens/pasta on one side, and tip it to the other for serving or to rest alongside your other ingredients. The colander is maade out of durable melamine and designed by Ole Jensen.
(more…)

Get ready to crack some nuts with the Normann Copenhagen Silicone Nutcracker. Silicone ensures a soft, comfortable grip so that almost anyone can use it, young or old. The silicone bounces back into its original shape after the nut has been cracked and that means more nuts cracked with less faffing about.
(more…)

Quick, what is the item above? I bet you have some good guesses: a fancy torture device, a cocktail muddler, a writing implement… but all of those are not the case. It’s a bottle opener, a “rotationally symmetrical bottle opener cut from solid brass” to be exact. Nice, right? Designed by Luke Smith-Wightman and available at FAO Shop in the UK.
(more…)

Did you know Eero Aarnio designed this citrus squeezer? Do you care? You should, because you never know when a brightly colored lemon squeezer will come in handy, and you’re not the type to just buy any ol’ squeezer. Also, just for fun, let’s play a quick game. Which of these three chairs did Eero Aarnio design?
(more…)

It’s nearing stocking-stuffer time, and for $8, you can stuff your favorite cook’s stocking with this beech wood spoon with a handy silicone stylus end. If they use a tablet in the kitchen for following recipes, they’ll appreciate the combination, no doubt about it.
(more…)

Why are aprons a good gift idea? Beats me, as I’m not fond of the kitchen, but I can guess they protect clothing and also are a little fun in the apparel arena, as no pattern is too big or crazy within the confines of your own home. Now, these patterns by Alvar and Elissa Aalto are not too big or crazy, and you could easily appropriate it for items of clothing worn outside the home (there’s an Artek Tote, after all), but for now you have the option of adding an Apron, Oven Mitt, Trivet or Tray to your kitchen for a little bit of pattern play on very useful items.
(more…)